The lightweight fighter suffered what officials called a “classic migraine” the night prior to a scheduled fight with John Gunderson at UFC 112 this past Saturday and was removed from the card shortly before the event began.

He returned this week to his home in Cannock, Staffordshire, England.

A migraine is a severe headache which lasts between four and 72 hours. Its symptoms include nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and sound.

Hennessy said Taylor’s migraine struck between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. the night prior to the event. Doctors initially gave him a 50-50 chance to fight, but as the day progressed, Taylor’s symptoms grew worse.

“He got a fever and it became obvious that he wasn’t going to fight,” Hennessey said. “[UFC doctors] couldn’t give him any medication … because if they gave him medication, he wouldn’t be able to fight.”

By the afternoon, Taylor couldn’t keep food or liquids down and had lost vision in his left eye, according to Hennessy. At 3:30 p.m., Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs, made the decision to remove him from the card. A former executive director with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Rather oversees and regulates UFC events held in locations without formal athletic commissions.

Amid concerns of dehydration, doctors wanted Taylor to go to an area hospital to receive IV fluids. Taylor declined the trip and stayed in his hotel room, where he remained bedridden until Sunday. He did not see the event.

“Distraught,” Hennessy said of Taylor’s reaction to the removal. “He was almost in tears, apart from the pain and everything else. He didn’t want to let anyone down. Paul’s a fighter and he really wanted to get in the octagon.”

The UFC paid Taylor his show purse.

Taylor (10-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) most recently dropped a unanimous decision to John Hathaway at UFC 105 in November. And with four losses in six fights, he would have been in a must-win situation.

Hennessy said the UFC is happy to have Taylor back when he is cleared to fight.

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